Blade and moldboard supporting and adjusting structure for snowplows



sept 2, 1969 r M BoGENscHu-rz 3,464,129

BLADE AND MOLDBOARD SUPPORTING AND ADJUSTING STRUCTURE FOR SNOWPLOWS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. ll, 1967 l" I 5 L\ FIG. 2

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IN V EN TOR.

l l] I Il l l' 3|/ 3l "I l" THOMAS M. BOGENSCHUTZ.

HG. 3 4 MMM ATTORNEY.

Sept 2, 1969 T. M. BoGr-:NscHuTz 3,464,129v

BLADE AND MOLDBOARD SUPPORTING AND ADJUTING STRUCTURE FOR SNOWPLOWS 4 Filed Oct. 11, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 6

9' FIG 8 l flqiea 7 o NVENTOR.

THOMAS M. BOGENSCHUTZ.

ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3 464,129 BLADE AND MOLDIOARD SUPPORTING AND ADJUSTING STRUCTURE FOR SNOWPLOWS Thomas M. Eogenschutz, Clayton, N.Y., assignor to Frlnk Sno-Plows, Inc., Clayton, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 11, 1967, Ser. No. 674,405 Int. Cl. Elllh /06; E02f 3/84;A01b 51/00 U.S. Cl. 37-50 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A structure for detachably mounting a heavy blade and moldboard assembly of a large snowplow to a vehicle permitting limited movement of the assembly about a fore and aft axis. The blade and moldboard assembly is angulated by reversible power operated worm gear mechanism. The invention further includes spring means yieldingly restraining upward movement of the blade and moldboard assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In blade and moldboard type snowplows, it is desirable and, in some situations, necessary to shift the angular relationship between the blade and moldboard assembly and the axis of the vehicle. A number of arrangements have been developed to accomplish that result. However, such arrangements have embodied a complicated and expensive construction, permitting such adjustment of the blade and mold board only by increments. In such arrangements, a blade and moldboard assembly is maintained in adjusted position by latch means.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to a snowplow structure of the blade and moldboard type. It embodies a blade and moldboard supporting frame pivotally mounted on a `drive frame for movement into angular position relative to the line of forward movement of the vehicle. The mechanism for shifting the moldboard supporting frame includes a worm gear and a gear segment. The worm gear is operated by a reversible motor and the gearing is self-locking, whereby the blade and moldboard may be quickly moved from one angular position to another, and is automatically locked in the adjusted position.

The invention also includes a drive support assembly for connecting the main or drive frame of the vehicle, the drive frame having limited oscillating movement relative to the vehicle on an axis extending fore and aft thereof, the drive support assembly including means whereby the drive frame and all the structure carried thereby can be quickly and conveniently removed from the vehicle.

The invention also embodies a novel structure for at taching the blade and moldboard assembly to its supporting frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the structure embodying my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a view taken on line 2 2, FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a View taken on line 3 3, FIGURE 2.

3,464,129 Patented Sept. 2, 1969 ICC DETAILED DESCRIPTION The main or drive frame of the structure is attached to the vehicle by a drive support assembly which consists of a plate 10 having upper and lower flanges 11, 12. Ears 13 are fixed to the ends of the plate 10 and are formed with apertures 14 to receive pins by which the drive support assembly is pivotally connected to the bracket structure fixed to the front end of the motor truck, or other vehicle, to which the snowplow is attached.

A drive frame of Ashaped configuration is attached to the drive support assembly and extends forwardly thereof. The drive frame is made up of side members 17 and cross members 18, 19. The members 17, 18 and 19 are oftubular form, rectangular in cross section. The side members converge forwardly so that the frame is of general triangular shape. A plate 20` is welded to the base, or inner end of the frame, with the lower portion of the plate 20 overlying the plate 10 of the drive support assembly. A pivot plate 21 is welded, or otherwise iixedly secured, to the plate 20 and extends rearwardly through a slot formed in the plate 10, see FIGURE 4. The slot is elongated and extends in a direction lengthwise of the plate 16, with the end areas 23 of the slot being of substantially greater vertical dimension than the opening at the center of the slot, whereby the slot is somewhat of hourglass configuration. The thickness of the pivot plate 21 is comparable to the vertical dimension of the slot at the center thereof, and the plate 21 is of such width as to pass through the slot with clearance, and extends rearwardly a distance from the plate 10.

With this arrangement, the plate 21, and the drive frame to which it is attached, may oscillate relative to the drive support assembly, this oscillation being permitted by the hourglass configuration of the slot, as will be apparent, see FIGURE 3.

Means is provided to restrain forward movement of the plate 21 relative to the plate 10. In the arrangement shown, the plate 21 is provided, adjacent its rear edge, with projections 25 extending from the top and bottom `sides of the plate and spaced rearwardly of the plate 10. Clamp plates 27 are positioned on the upper and lower surfaces of the plates 21 intermediate the plate 10 and the projections 25. The clamp plates are clamped to the plate 21 by bolts 30 extending through the plates 27 and through intermediate spacers 31.

Referring to FIGURES 3 and 4, the projections 25 are also located adjacent the ends of the plate 21 in registration with the enlarged areas 23 of the slot in plate 10. The overall Vertical dimension of the projections 25 is less than the vertical dimension of the enlarged ends 23 of the slot. Accordingly, when the clamp plates 27 are removed, the plate 21 will pass through the slot for removal of the drive frame from the drive support assembly.

The blade 40 and mold board 41 assembly is mounted on a supporting frame which includes a c-ross member 43 pivotally mounted on the forward end of the drive frame by pivot pin 45.

The blade and moldboard supporting frame further includes side .members 47 fixed to the ends of the cross member 43 and converging rearwardly to the center of the structure. Braces 48 extend from the cross member 43 to the side members 47. A gear segment 50 is fixed to the members 47 at the apex area formed thereby, the gear teeth being arranged concentric with the axis of the pivot pin 45. A worm 51 is fixed to a shaft 52 journalled in brackets 52 fixedly secured to the under side of the cross member 18 and depending therefrom. A hydraulic motor 55 is operatively connected to the shaft 52 to effect rotation of the worm 51. Rotation of the worm 51 by the motor 55 effects rotation of the blade and moldboard supporting frame about the pivot 45. The motor 55 is reversible so that the blade and moldboard assembly can be moved in angular relation to the axis of the vehicle, as indicated by the dotted lines 57, 58, FIGURE l.

A guide member 60 is fixedly mounted in the side members 47 at the apex of the blade supporting frame, and is formed with an arcuate edge 61 confronting the pivot pin 45. A guide block 63 is fixed to the under side of the cross member 19 and is formed with a slot to receive the curved edge 61 of the guide member 60. This arrangement maintains the blade supporting frame in parallel relation with the drive frame.

The blade 40 is fixed to the lower edge portion of the curved moldboard 41 and a reinforcing member 65 iS fixed to the lower inner surface of the moldboard to the rear of the blade 40, see FIGURE 2. Rib plates 69 are fixed to the rear surface of the moldboard 41 and are arranged in spaced apart pairs.

`The plates 69 of each pair are formed with alined apertures to receive pins 70 which also extend through apertures formed in the plates 71. The plates 71 are a-rranged in spaced relation, and are welded at their upper ends to a circular member 73, see FIGURES 7 and 8. A plate 75 is welded to the upper side edges of the plates 71. The plates 71, member 73 and plate 75 form a yoke member 76 connected to the blade and moldboard assembly by pin 70. The circular member is formed with an aperture, in which is slidably mounted a round stud 77, the lower end portion 80 of which is rectangular in cross section and formed with an elongated slot 81 through which the pin 70 also extends. A nut and washer assembly 83 is fixed to the upper end of the stud 77. A'helical compression spring 85 is positioned on the stud intermediate the nut and washer assembly and the member 73. The member 80 is welded to the cross member 43 and is also fixed thereto by a busset 87 and a brace 90.

With stud 77 fixedly mounted on the cross member 43, the plates 71 carrying the -pins 70 are urged downwardly, with the pins 70 seated at the bottom of the slot 81 in the part 80 of the stud. In the event the blade 40 encounters an obstacle during the plowing operation, the blade, pin 70, and yoke 76, move upwardly, compressing the spring 85. The upward movement of the blade is sufficient to permit the blade to pass over objects normally encountered in highway plowing.

Ears 91 are welded to the upper ends of the plates 71. A brace 93 is pivotally connected at its upper end by a pin 95 passing through the upper ends of the plates 69. The lower end of the brace 93 is connected to the ears 91 by a pin 97. The brace 93 is of such length as to properly position the moldboard for plowing. When the blade encounters an obstacle and is moved upwardly, the `yoke 76 also moves upwardly and the pivot pin 97 likewise, dueto the fact that the ears 91 are welded to the plate 71.

,With this arrangement, the blade and moldboard are moved upwardly on an angle of substantially 45 when an obstacle is encountered. However, the moldboard and blade assembly will be maintained in the established approach angle throughout such movement, preventing any forward movement of the blade 40 about the pivot 70, as

4 is common with conventional blade and moldboard mounting structures.

The blade 40 is maintained in proper relation to the road surface by a shoe mounted for universal movement on a vertically adjustable stem 101 fixed to each end of the cross member 43.

From the above description in connection with the drawings, it will be apparent the blade and moldboard assembly can be quickly shifted to any angular position in either direction and locked in adjusted position by only manipulating the control for motor 55. Also,y the entire plow' structure can be removed from the vehicle by simply removing the clamp bars 27.

' What I claim is:

1`. A snowplowl structure comprising a drive frame, means for attaching said frame to the frontend of a vehicle, a blade and moldboard supporting frame pivotally connected to the forward end of said driveframe for movement about a verticle axis, a blade and moldboard assembly mounted on said supporting frame forwardly of said pivot, said supporting frame extending rearwardly from said pivotal connection, a gear segment fixed to the rearwardly extending portion of said supporting frame and arranged concentric with said pivotal connection, a worm gear joumalled in said driveframe and arranged in mesh with said gear segment, reversible power means carried by said drive frame and operatively connected to said worm gear to effect rotation thereof for moving said supporting frame and the blade and moldboard assembly carried thereby about said pivot, said drive frame and said supporting frame having slidably interlocking means for maintaining said frames in parallel relation, said slidably interlocking means'including a first guide member fixed to said blade and moldboard supporting frame, a second guide member fixed to said drive frame, one of said guide members being formed with a slot, said other guide member having an arcuate surface arranged concentrically with said gear segment and extending into said slot and having sliding engagement therewith.

2. A snowplow structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first guide member is mounted on said blade and moldboard supporting frame intermediate the pivotal mounting thereof and said gear segment.

3. A snowplow structure comprising a drive frame, a drive support assembly for attaching said drive frame to the front end of a vehicle, vertically disposed overlying plates fixed to said frame and drive support assembly respectively and extending ina direction transversely of the vehicle, the plate on said drive supporting assembly being formed with a slot extending lengthwise thereof, the plate on said drive frame being provided with a pivot plate extending rearwardly through said slot, and means for restrainingV forward movement of said pivot plate in said slot, the end areas of said slot being of greater vertical dimension than the center portion of said slot, said pivot plate being complemental in thickness with the vertical dimension of said slot at the center thereof, whereby said drive frame may oscillate relative to said supporting assembly. ,Y

4, The structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein the means for restraining forward movement of said pivot plate in said slot consists of clamp bars detachably clamped to said pivot plate rearwardly of the plate on said drive supporting assembly.

5. A snowplow structure comprising a supporting frame, a blade and moldboard assembly, meansfor mounting said blade and moldboard assembly on said supporting frame, said means comprising a stud fixed to said supportingframe, said stud being inclined upwardly and rearwardly from said `blade and moldboard assembly, the lower portion of said stud being formed intermediate its ends with a lengthwise extending slot, a yoke Lmember slidably mounted on the lower portion of said stud, the sides of said yoke member being formed with aligned 5 6 aperture in registration with said slot, a pin having a con- References Cited nection to the lower 4portion of said blade and moldboard UNITED STATES PATENTS assembly and extending through said apertures and said 2,195,306 3/1940 Henry et al. 172 796 slot, a brace connecting the upper portion of Said blade 2,775,830 1/1957 Kenyon 37.42 and moldboard assembly to said yoke, and reSilieD means 5 2,792,650 5 1957 Kenyon 37-42 yieldingly urging said yoke member downwardly with 2,854,766 10/ 1958 Miller 37-42 said pin positloned 1n the lower end of said slot. WILLIAM B' PENN Primary Examiner 6. A snowplow structure as set forth in claim 5, wherein said resilient means consists of a spring mounted on the lo EUGENE H- EICKHOLT, ASSISUIt EXammel upper portion of said tud and exerting downward pres- U S C1 X,R sure on said yoke. 172-803, 272 

